Bravado: "a pretense of courage." It comes from an Old Spanish word "to swagger."
Webster’s defines bravery as: "quality of spirit that enables you to face danger of pain without showing fear."
Betrayal: "To deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance"
Today we are going to see these three qualities in the arrest and trial of Jesus.
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Have you ever wondered what they sang? It’s quite possible that it was a Psalm - Psalm 116 in fact - which was traditionally sung after the Passover meal. Let’s turn there because it is significant for the events to take place.
Now we know from John that there was a lengthy discourse that Jesus gave here, but Peter only tells us the part focused on the disciples:
27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:
"’I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ Zechariah 13:7
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
God commanded that the Shepherd be struck - and what would follow would be a tremendous time of testing. In fact, Luke tell us:
Luke 22:31-32 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
The scattering was necessary - partly to show that man cannot be loyal to God apart from the gift of the Son - His life, and then His Spirit imparted to man. Devotion to God, even zealous devotion like we see in man-made religions in this world - cannot get you anything because we cannot on our own draw close to God - God must draw close to us and make the way.
Jesus tells them plainly what will happen, but gives them hope that He will not abandon them, but has a plan for restoration.
So Peter, bless his heart, instead of listening to Jesus, speaks his mind:
29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."
30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today-yes, tonight-before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.
Notice that Peter wasn’t the only one to make this rash promise. Sometimes we are too hard on Peter because he was so honest about his own failings - but at least Peter tried to get close the Lord (we’ll see that later) whereas most of the others simply ran and hid.
This is bravado, plain and simple - "the pretense of courage." It reminds me of the story of Ben-Hadad, King of Aram, and Ahab, king of Israel in 1Kings 20.
Ben-Hadad had just gotten through telling Ahab that he was going to slaughter Israel, and Ahab says:
1 Kings 20:11 The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: ’One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’"
So they go out from Jerusalem, but don’t return to Bethany like before - Jesus stops on the southwestern slopes of the Mount of Olives in a place called Gethsemane - which means "olive press."
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
Jesus knew He was going to die - and He knew that the Father would raise Him - but it was the horror of facing separation from the Father and taking upon Himself the sins of the world that lay so heavily on His shoulders. Jesus was indeed human, but He faced this hour with courage and bravery.
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Take a look at this statement - someone could argue that Jesus suffered from a lack of faith because He directly asked the Father to not make Him go the cross. It is okay for us to pray honestly to the Father - as long as we, like Jesus, follow it with: "Thy will be done."
God didn’t take away the cup - but He did take away the fear and agitation.
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Why were they sleeping? It was late, they had perhaps had a little too much wine, or maybe they were just exhausted from the stress and worry of this week - we don’t know. But Jesus knew that although in their hearts they wanted to be there for Jesus, their bodies were too weak - Jesus would face this trial totally alone.
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Apparently Jesus woke them up again - but even as we don’t have a good response for not following the Lord’s direction - they were speechless.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Jesus wasn’t thinking about running, but wanted to confront his accuser and betrayer - Judas, head on.
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
The "crowd" was made up of temple guards and a small contingent of Roman soldiers who came to make sure everything stayed under control.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
John reveals to us that it was Peter who cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant. Jesus then immediately healed the servant and told Peter to put away the sword.
Judas betrays Jesus with a sign of affection and respect - how horrible.
48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."
Jesus recoiled, not at being arrested, but the manner of the arrest. He points out that there was no need for a show of worldly force - as if that could intimidate Jesus anyway. Jesus is giving Himself voluntarily for arrest. But the Lord doesn’t want those who were behind the evil act to get away unscathed - they come in the darkness on a deed of darkness through dark motives. There were many prophecies that needed to be fulfilled - the mock trial, the torture at the hands of the Romans, etc.
50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Only Mark records this little incident - and it may well be because it was the author himself who was the young man. Its possible that after the dinner at his house, John-Mark was sleeping, wrapped in a linen garment - perhaps the guards came to the house looking for Jesus - and John-Mark ran out quickly to warn Jesus - only to be grabbed as a possible witness.
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together.
Mark shortens the account somewhat - Jesus was first taken to Annas, the former high priest, then to Caiaphus, the high priest - in a nighttime meeting of the ruling council, the Sanhedrin. This hearing, by the way, was illegal under Jewish law.
At this point of the story, Mark concentrates on Peter.
54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
Why did Peter come? John, by the way, was also there. Maybe he thought he could still rescue Jesus - though he hides his identity. Maybe he knew he couldn’t do anything, but still wanted to be near Jesus.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
You’d think at this point the Jewish leaders would have said: well, I guess we should let Jesus go. But this wasn’t a trial to find the truth or justice - it was a trial to find a way to murder Jesus. The Law says that for any fact to be established, you must have at least two witnesses - but because they were fabricating the evidence anyway - the Sanhedrin couldn’t get anyone to give the same story.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 "We heard him say, ’I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’" 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
Isn’t it odd that in order for them to kill Jesus - the men who were supposed to safeguard the law actually broke it - "you shall not give false testimony." Exodus 20:16.
As is often the case a little bit of truth is stretched to the breaking point to justify a point of view. Jesus did say in John 2: "destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." But He was speaking in the 2nd person (not I will destroy). The witnesses here add "man made" to show just how much they had misunderstood.
Do you ever find people misunderstanding the words of Jesus? Jesus said "give and it will be given to you" and people think Jesus is a way to get rich. The problem is that people don’t listen carefully to what Jesus says - they hear what they want to hear instead of what the Lord says.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
I find it a little odd that Jesus didn’t refute the false testimony - at least to say "well, that’s not what I said" or something. He did it partly to fulfill prophecy:
Isaiah 53:7 As a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth
But also - why answer back liars who are just trying to find ways to trip you up. I think there is a lesson here for us too. We are sometimes so quick on the draw whenever someone says something bad about us.
James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. 20 For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
Sometimes the best answer is no answer. There is a time to say something - but Jesus told us at that time the Holy Spirit will give us the words. When it comes to personal attack, don’t defend yourself - defend the Lord.
Well, the high priest finally has had enough - and he goes right to the core:
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
When Jesus chooses to answer He does with authority. If anyone other than the Messiah uttered these words they deserved death -
63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
They all condemned him as worthy of death.
So right here all these men are rejecting Jesus as the Messiah.
65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
With their pretense of a legal proceeding now in shambles - and their true cause in the open, the evil behind their plot now comes out. Often times the enemy will disguise his plots in a veil of legitimacy but if the flesh is behind it, then sooner or later the flesh will come out.
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.
68 But he denied it. "I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about."
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.
We give Peter a hard time - and more power to him for being so honest about his failures. We know that Jesus personally came to Peter later to let him know that it was okay - that the important thing was that Peter loved Jesus and that Jesus had commissioned Peter.
The key ingredient that was missing was the empowering of the Holy Spirit - an event that took place 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead. After that empowerment Peter was a different person.
That’s why in Acts 4 while standing in front of some of the very rulers who had condemned Jesus Peter said:
Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Have you ever failed the Lord?
Jesus knows that our spirits are willing, but our flesh is weak. He knows that we will promise great things and fail often. John would later write: "If we say we have no sin then we lie and the truth is not in us."
But Jesus prays for us too, knowing that the scattering of the sheep provides for the shepherd to gather them back up again. If you fail, let Jesus gather you, restore you, and fill you with His strength.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
KJV
There is a key difference between Judas and Peter
Both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus - but the key difference is that Peter realized his sin, repented for it - and flung himself on the mercy of God. Judas was sorry that things didn’t turn out, but did not repent nor ask for God’s mercy. And that’s the difference between someone who will go to hell and one who will go to heaven.
Bravado or Bravery?
Being brave doesn’t mean being ignorant of the dangers or tough times ahead or surrounding you. Being brave doesn’t mean you are never afraid. Bravado makes incredible claims without knowledge and ignores reality. God doesn’t want us to make false claims of faith we can’t fulfill - that’s a sure way to condemnation. Instead I think He wants us to be honest about our situation with Him, asking for help but always wanting His will.
Being brave means you can get through it with God at your side. Bravado means trying to make it on your own.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles."
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